Yeonsoo Julian Kim! Games! Werewolves!

Hey friends,

Hope you’re all hanging in there. I have mostly been watching Sondheim clips and by “clips” I mean a “bootleg copy of the 2011 New York Philharmonic Concert version of Company with Spanish subtitles.” I won’t link to that but I will link to the 1991 taping of Into the Woods, which is next in my queue and which I would recommend to anyone (esp. over the 2014 film).

Anyway, this week on the show, we spoke with game designer and cultural consultant Yeonsoo Julian Kim, who has contributed to everything from nonbinary werewolf storytelling games, to BDSM tea party larps, to K-Pop roleplaying games, to erotic transfemme demon interactive fiction… and much more!

Photo ID: A photo of Yeonsoo against a plain white wall. 

As a person whose game experience is mostly childhood card games and DnD-adjacent podcasts, it was super interesting to hear Yeonsoo talk about creating games where the goal might be to, like, process gender feelings and rough family dynamics, or to have a nice cry. We also talked about the DnD to HRT pipeline (it’s real!), and why so many games love colonialism so much.

Here's the art from one of Yeonsoo's games that we didn't talk about at all! Simply too much good stuff.

Photo ID: The box for Battle of the Boy Bands, which features several characters in a variety of fancy (suit) and/or vaguely futuristic outfits.

My big news this week is that I am thiiiiiis close to being CAUGHT UP ON PATREON REWARDS. Big $40+ packages are being mailed, um, whenever I make it to the post office, and everything else was mailed out last week. So if you’re still missing something in a week or so, lmk!

My other big news is that I took some time off?!? Sort of?!?! Still trying to figure out what people do besides work but I’m (ahem) working on it. Thanks for all the encouragement.

Also, before I forget: tomorrow (11/30) is the last day for merch for the year so grab what you want now or hold ur peace. You can still get free shipping with code PERVERTS, too.

Speaking of merch, we're in a gift guide lmao! 

Photo ID: A screenshot of Xtra's gift guide by Mel Woods, titled "Holiday gifts for every queer in your life," which features a photo of the Trains Flag mug between an L Word baby onesie and some kind of book or movie or something about Schitts Creek idk. 

Next week on the show, we’ve got my bud Calvin, whose book is a truly delightful read and also an excellent gift just saying.

OK, that’s it for this week. Here’s your weekly Rhubarb, taken by my roommate. Hang in there!

Photo ID: Ruby the cat stands on top of a door for some reason. Her eyes are green and WIDE open as if startled by something. 

Xo,

Yr resident gender detective

PS: Sagittarius season is my birthday season and if you want to make me extremely flustered but in a nice way, feel free to drop a postcard and say hi! No presh at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My mailing address is #188 3519 NE 15th Ave, Portland, OR, 97212 just in case ok byeeee!